Maryssa Hardy joined Sandberg Phoenix in 2026 and is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group. She represents clients in a wide range of complex business disputes, bringing experience from both government service and the courtroom to her practice.
Prior to joining the firm in 2026, Maryssa served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Florida Attorney General’s Office. In that role, she litigated a variety of civil matters on behalf of the State of Florida, its agencies, and public officials. Her practice included representing clients in both state and federal courts, where she handled cases from initial filings through trial and appeal.
Maryssa has experience navigating all stages of litigation and is skilled in legal research, motion practice, and appellate advocacy. Her background in public sector litigation provides her with a strong foundation in analyzing complex legal issues and developing strategic, results-driven solutions for her clients.
During law school, Maryssa gained valuable experience working with multiple state agencies and serving as a judicial intern for both a federal district court judge and a magistrate judge in Florida. These roles provided her with insight into judicial decision-making and further strengthened her legal writing and analytical abilities.
Outside of the office, Maryssa enjoys spending time with family and traveling.
Licensures and Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Awards & Recognition
- 2024
- University of Florida Levin College of Law Dean’s Leadership Award
Crystal Armstrong helps health care organizations navigate complex state and federal regulations and challenges, developing robust, growth-oriented legal strategies for streamlined operations and risk-averse structures for long-term compliance.
Crystal boasts experience conducting health care regulatory due diligence in mergers, acquisitions, and other transactional arrangements, as well as drafting and reviewing necessary transactional documents. She has assisted in counseling a diverse client base – spanning pharmacies, health care providers, commercial Medicare and Medicaid managed care organizations, life science companies, and health care industry investors – on a wide variety of regulatory and compliance matters.
In addition, Crystal has gained experience assisting high-net-worth clients with estate planning matters and general business law, including drafting and reviewing estate planning documents and business materials, and collaborating with key stakeholders and advisors to develop comprehensive estate plans. This multidisciplinary work lends itself to her current practice, in which she regularly analyzes intersecting interests and regulations to both avoid risk and maximize advantages.
While earning her Juris Doctor at The University of Alabama School of Law, Crystal served as the vice president of the Black Law Student Association, president of the Health Law Society, a Law School Ambassador, a member of the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society, and the acquisitions & development editor for the Law & Psychology Review.
Prior to attending law school, Crystal spent five years as a school psychologist, a background which helps her better interpret complex relational dynamics and prioritize strong client communication.
Education
- University of Alabama School of Law, 2023 (J.D.)
- Middle Tennessee State University, 2015 (Ed.S.)
- Middle Tennessee State University, 2014 (M.A.)
- Tennessee State University, 2012 (B.S.), summa cum laude
Bar Admissions
Sheldon Hughes is a corporate attorney who focuses on mergers and acquisitions, representing a diverse range of clients including multinational corporations, private equity firms, and companies across various industries. His practice encompasses domestic and international transactions, with experience handling deals valued from tens of millions to billions of dollars.
Sheldon’s work involves managing M&A transactions, including drafting and negotiating purchase agreements, conducting due diligence, preparing disclosure schedules, and coordinating with local counsel on cross-border deals. He has assisted clients in industries such as beverages, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, technology, and financial services. Sheldon also has experience in capital markets transactions, corporate governance matters, and internal reorganizations. Additionally, he maintains an active pro bono practice, representing clients in asylum cases and applications for special immigration status.
RECOGNITIONS
- National Black Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, Atlanta, 2023
COMMUNITY
- National Bar Association
- Caribbean Bar Association
- Gate City Bar Association
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
CREDENTIALS
Education
Howard University School of Law, JD, magna cum laude, 2018
Florida Atlantic University, BA, 2012
Admissions
Georgia
New York
Raven Lewis is an associate in our Personal Injury Litigation Department. She attended DePaul College of Law at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois where she served as an associate staff member of the Black Law Students Association, Center for Public Interest Law Association, and Child and Family Law Association.
She was also honored to intern for the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, Department of Child and Family Services, Office of the Public Guardian, and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
Her numerous internships furthered her pursuit of honing her legal skills while nurturing her desire to represent the harmed and disenfranchised.
Upon graduating from DePaul in May of 2018, Raven entered public service and was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney of Nassau County in September 2018. The District Attorney’s Office provided extensive opportunities for Raven to sharpen her advocacy and litigation skills while working on cases involving sexual assault, narcotics, armed robbery, and illegal weapon possession.
While serving the People of Nassau County, Raven’s path eventually led her towards her current career in the field of Personal Injury, explicitly focusing on the Child Victim Act, Adult Survivors Act, and Civil Rights cases.
Raven’s passions include traveling, yoga, and reading science fiction or mystery novel.
Ashlyne J. Polynice is an associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she currently practices in the firm’s Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance practice group.
She received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Howard University School of Law in 2021 where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Howard Human & Civil Rights Law Review. Ashlyne received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, summa cum laude, from Fordham University in 2014.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Ashlyne was an associate in the capital markets group at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
Ashlyne is admitted to practice in the State of New York.
Capabilities
Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance
Capital Markets
Education:
Howard University - 2021 Juris Doctor
Fordham University - 2014 Bachelor of Arts
Admissions:
New York Bar